Today’s Scripture ReadingToday’s Scripture Reading

1 Corinthians 10:14-171 Corinthians 10:14-17

One

One

Drink

Drink

1 Corinthians 10:14-171 Corinthians 10:14-17

One

One Bread

Bread

One Spirit

One Spirit One One

BodyBody

KOINONIA: Our Vital ConnectionKOINONIA: Our Vital Connection

•Often translated “fellowship”Often translated “fellowship”

•Is a very special fellowshipIs a very special fellowship

•Have you heard: Have you heard: Beauty is only Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clear to skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone.the bone.

•Christian fellowship is like “ugly” – Christian fellowship is like “ugly” – only it goes clear to the soul.only it goes clear to the soul.

Welcome to Our Homecoming!Welcome to Our Homecoming!

• Let’s also Let’s also celebrate our celebrate our Christian Christian fellowship!fellowship!

• It UNITES us.It UNITES us.• It makes us It makes us

DIFFERENT DIFFERENT people.people.

• It joins us It joins us together together wherever in the wherever in the world we are!world we are!

The Fellowship of the DrinkThe Fellowship of the Drink

1 Corinthians 10:161 Corinthians 10:16 -- Is not the cup of -- Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which thanksgiving for which we give thanks a we give thanks a participation in the participation in the blood of Christ?blood of Christ?

•PARTICIPATION is PARTICIPATION is translated from translated from KOINONIAKOINONIA

What Does Koinonia Mean?What Does Koinonia Mean?

• Luke 5:7, 10 -- Luke 5:7, 10 -- So they So they signaled their signaled their partnerspartners in the in the other boat to come and help other boat to come and help them, and they came and them, and they came and filled both boats so full that filled both boats so full that they began to sink…and so they began to sink…and so were James and John, the were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon's sons of Zebedee, Simon's partnerspartners..

Sharing in a common cause or occupationSharing in a common cause or occupation

Sharing in a common conditionSharing in a common condition

Hebrews 2:14Hebrews 2:14

• Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared

in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—

Complete UnificationComplete Unification

• In a seamless fellowship

• Unified escapees from the world of sin and corruption

“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the

corruption in the world caused by evil

desires.”2 Peter 1:4

The Sacramental Drink (Cup)The Sacramental Drink (Cup)

•A sign of our KOINONIAA sign of our KOINONIA•The cup of BLESSING (thanksgiving)The cup of BLESSING (thanksgiving)•First blessed by JesusFirst blessed by Jesus•Blessed by us each time we partake Blessed by us each time we partake togethertogether•It is a KOINONIA (sharing) in the It is a KOINONIA (sharing) in the blood of Christ.blood of Christ.•We drink of the blood of the We drink of the blood of the covenant.covenant.•The fact of that blood is a binding The fact of that blood is a binding and unifying element tying us each and unifying element tying us each together as blood brothers and sisters.together as blood brothers and sisters.

Blood Is Thicker Than WaterBlood Is Thicker Than Water

•We reflect We reflect each time upon each time upon the benefits of the benefits of one sacrifice…one sacrifice…that of the pure that of the pure blood of Jesus blood of Jesus which which sanctifies!sanctifies!We are KOINONIA in Christ – not just We are KOINONIA in Christ – not just friendsfriends

The Fellowship of the Bread

1 Corinthians 10:16-171 Corinthians 10:16-17……And is not the bread that we break a And is not the bread that we break a

participation in the body of Christ? participation in the body of Christ? Because there is one loaf, we, who are Because there is one loaf, we, who are

many, are one body, for we all partake of many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.the one loaf.

Understanding the Metaphor

• Bread was considered the most central food item of their diet.

• Bread was associated with sacrificial meals and appointed feasts.

• Bread has a connection with the body of Jesus – firmly established by John 10 – and with the body of the church.

KOINONIA in the Bread

• Just like with the cup – it points to the one supreme sacrifice of Jesus to atone for sin.

• Do we DARE enter the KOINONIA of Christ and also the KOINONIA of demons?

• Paul’s primary point – we can’t fellowship in sanctification and also fellowship in filthiness and the corruption of the world.

The Fellowship of the Spirit (One Body)

1 Corinthians 10:1-4

•Israel had unification (KOINONIA) through Israel had unification (KOINONIA) through the Spirit of Godthe Spirit of God

•They all partook of the same spiritual They all partook of the same spiritual food (manna)food (manna)•They all drank the same spiritual drink They all drank the same spiritual drink (water from the rock)(water from the rock)•They all partook of the same ROCK – They all partook of the same ROCK – Christ (Messiah) which followed them.Christ (Messiah) which followed them.

•They had every benefit of Divine guidance They had every benefit of Divine guidance and spiritual encouragement.and spiritual encouragement.

What is Paul’s Point?What is Paul’s Point?

•Israel predates us in sharing in a Israel predates us in sharing in a eucharistic-style meal.eucharistic-style meal.•We must be sure, however, to learn We must be sure, however, to learn from their mistake: KOINONIA with from their mistake: KOINONIA with Christ is vital.Christ is vital.•But we are NOT also toBut we are NOT also to participate in KOINONIA withparticipate in KOINONIA with idols, and therefore demons.idols, and therefore demons.

Fraternized with any demonsFraternized with any demonslately? Greed. Lust. Jealousy.lately? Greed. Lust. Jealousy.Covetousness? Etc. Etc. Etc.Covetousness? Etc. Etc. Etc.

Our Koinonia is Through The Spirit

1 Corinthians 12:13, 27

“For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink… Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. ”

We are ONE body through the We are ONE body through the SpiritSpirit

•We all drank of the one Spirit.We all drank of the one Spirit.

•Wherever we are in the world, we are one Wherever we are in the world, we are one body, completely unified,body, completely unified,

by the Spirit of God.by the Spirit of God.

Living the KOINONIA-focused LifeLiving the KOINONIA-focused Life

1 John 1:3-71 John 1:3-7•We have fellowship through the message We have fellowship through the message proclaimedproclaimed

•Our fellowship is with Father and SonOur fellowship is with Father and Son

•KOINONIA with God requires walking in KOINONIA with God requires walking in the light and shunning the darkness.the light and shunning the darkness.

•KOINONIA requires the constant cleansing KOINONIA requires the constant cleansing of the blood of Christ. of the blood of Christ.

KOINONIA knows only one MasterKOINONIA knows only one Master

2 Corinthians 6:14-16 -- 2 Corinthians 6:14-16 -- Do not be yoked Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."they will be my people."

Who’s Are We?Who’s Are We?

•If God is our FatherIf God is our Father•If Christ is our SaviorIf Christ is our Savior•If the Holy Spirit is our Guarantee and If the Holy Spirit is our Guarantee and GuideGuide•If we drank of the one SpiritIf we drank of the one Spirit•If we share in the one BreadIf we share in the one Bread•If we drink of the one Cup…If we drink of the one Cup…

•Then we are one. We have fellowship with Then we are one. We have fellowship with one another and with God.one another and with God.•Otherwise…we share fellowship with the Otherwise…we share fellowship with the condemned. There is no other fellowship!condemned. There is no other fellowship!